Basic Biographical Details Name: | Robertson & Swan | Designation: | | Born: | 1912 | Died: | 1921 | Bio Notes: | Thomas Aikman Swan (born 1883) joined Alan Keith Robertson (born 1881) as assistant and prospective partner in the second half of 1910. Robertson's office was then at 29 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, but a branch office of the practice was subsequently opened at Dalkeith, where Swan had connections, and the partnership of Robertson & Swan was duly formed in 1912. Swan appears to have had a considerable design role as the façade of Robertson & Swan's Moray House had points in common with the Arts Building at the University of Alberta by Lorimer's former assistant Percy Erskine Nobbs, while the architecture of the Suffolk Halls campus was pure Lorimer.
The partnership did not long survive the First World War. Robertson did not seek a commission, preferring to serve in the line. He was severely wounded, recommencing practice in very poor health in 1917. Swan was commissioned, served in France and ended his service as a Major, thereafter being generally known as Major Aikman Swan. The partnership was resumed in 1919 but Swan withdrew in 1921, partly because of Robertson's chronic ill health, and partly because he is said to have thought it inappropriate to have a non-commissioned ex-serviceman as senior partner; but it was probably also because Swan was undertaking most of the work and had won first premiums in the competitions for four Edinburgh housing schemes, only one of which came his way. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 29, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1912 | | | | Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland | Business | 1912 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Alan Keith Robertson | 1912 | 1921 | Partner | | | Thomas Aikman Swan | 1912 | 1921 | Partner | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 22 May 1925 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from Frank Wood |
|